Siphon breaker



Patented Apr. 14, 1936 PATENT OFFlCE' SIPHON BREAKER Frank A. Holby, New York, N. Y., assignor,'by

mesne assignments, to The William F. Kenny Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application April 3, 1933, Serial No. 664,255. Divided and this application August 5, 1933, Serial No. 683,889

10 Claims. (Cl. 137-152) The present invention relates to a siphon breaker particularly adapted for interposition in the discharge line of a tank truck, in which relation it is shown in my application Serial No. 664,255, filed April 3, 1933, of which the present application is a division.

The device of the invention comprises a. normally open vent and means for closing the vent automatically and holding itclosed upon liquid flow through the device. In the particular embodiment shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing, a movable fiap is provided in position to be impinged by liquid flowing through the device, the flap in its initial movement carrying a vent closure valve to closed position. Upon cessation of flow the flap returns to normal position, permitting the vent valve to move to uncover the vent so that siphoning through the device is r the device.

upward opening in an oblique plane; the'opening 7 Referring to the drawing,-the device comprises a body preferably made in two parts, as here 1 shown, 5 and 6. The body portion 5 has formed therein a'chamberl which isprovided with an being surrounded by-a-machined flange 8. An

' outlet branch l0 leads therefrom, theformer as J inlet branch-8 leadsinto the chamber l and an here shown extending substantially horizontally p and the latter downwardly;

The inlet branch 9 is demarked The top 3 adapted to section flange: s and to be secured 401 thereto. Portion 6" also; comprises 'a vertically] f extending neck l5 inwhich are formed aplui'al- Qrelativelx, sli'ofrt initial movement" of the"; nap: 'ity of coaxial" bores l6, l1 andl8', foifprogressively If is disposed a j,

Inb e" diameter.

from the chamher 1 by a. circumferential ledge including a. top 7 I lip portion l'l ,"side portions as at l2, and a bottom t ti 3 Upo .tc ntl nue d or po tion l9 tem cap 21 which has a skirt threaded in the upper end of bore I6. v

A compression spring 28 is interposed between plunger elements 20 and 22 within portion l9 so that'element 22 is normally held against the top wall of portion 22 as shown in the drawing. The plunger portions i9, 20 and 22 thus constitute a spring-expanded telescoping plunger unit. A washer 29,resting on top of plunger portion l9 has seated thereagainst the lower end of a compression spring 3|) whose upper end seats against the lower portion of the cap 21. A bore 3| and counterbore 32 communicate bore I6 with a lower The vent opening is thus in communication with I the liquid passage in body portion 5.

Body portion 6 has secured or formed on its lower side a pair of downwardly projecting lugs as at 34, these being positioned so as to lie above lip H of body portion 5. A fiap 35 is hinged on a horizontal pin 36 supported by lugs 34 and is of such size as tov overlie the ledge constituted by portions 1 I, i2 and I3, the lower edge of the flap normally lying against ledge portion l3 as shown. A boss 31 on the flap has a threaded bore therein receivingfan abutment screw 38. which'is adapted to be locked in position vby means of a nut 39. The head of screw 38 lies immediately beneath the lower end of plunger portion 20 when the body portions are brought, together in operative relation'asi shown.

Liquidflowing through inlet branch Simpinges fiap 35 and swings it int-an anti-clockwise direction about pin 36,. soon as screw 38 strikes plunger element 2'0 (the' l atter is moved upwardly,

carrying with it, agai st the action or spring so; 1 plunger portion I9. and, through the intermediary of spring 2a,-e1ement 22;:st'ern 23; and valve mem- ,ber 25, so that thelatter is immediately moved to "close ven 26, this operation occurring during a oveiiient of the flag; s r n is further compressed and spri'nfg'28 is compressed fup'oii jmovemje'nt of plunger portions I9 and 20 which must "now be' relati" toportion .22 since further upward a'1llgf35 at th lQW efehd Jf flap 35 strikes a wall portion at b od'yfportion 5 that iurther'movemay mei t 'ofit'he flap" but permits. the-flap 1 to a" pos'ltion whereindtfis substanob uctiiig -to the fiow of'liquid I movemenm: theflatter isf-prev nte bvithevalvewliichjhasseated; Eventually The lower end of passage 32 lies intermediate the lateral edges of flap 35 so that in the dotted line position of the latter it prevents access of liquid to passage 32. Lip portion H acts as a bafile to prevent access of the liquid to the top of chamber 1 above the flap.

Upon cessation of flow, springs 28 and 30 are allowed to expand so that the parts resume the positions shown in the drawing, flap 35 completing its lowering movement under gravity. Screw 38 is adjustable to obtain the proper position therefor relative to plunger element 20.

AS used in a tank truck, the device has a tank discharge pipe connected into inlet branch 9, the discharge line being continued beyond the siphon breaker ordinarily by a downwardly extending pipe in connection with outlet branch I0. Ordinarily when discharge is sought t be shut oif, a siphon action occurs by reason of t e liquid in the downwardly extending pipe. th the use of the siphon breaker, however, Q t 26 is opened as soon as discharge is interrupted so that the downwardly extending pipe is permitted to empty without exerting suction on the liquid in the line behind the siphon breaker.

It will be understood that I do not necessarily limit myself to the details of construction shown and described. The invention is susceptible of varied embodiment, and accordingly} do not limit myself except as in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A siphon breaker comprising a body having a chamber therein and inlet and outlet branches in connection with said chamber, the inlet branch debouching into said chamber on the horizontal, a baflle lip at the top of the inlet branch between the latter and the chamber, a flap in the chamber normally overlying the inlet, a horizontal pivotal mounting for said flap disposed behind said baflle. lip, said body having a vent opening in communication with said chamber, a valve element for closing said vent opening but normally uncovering the same, and -means for a chamber therein and inlet and outlet branches in connection with said chamber, the inlet branch debouching into said chamber on the horizontal. a baiile lip at the top of the inlet branch vbetween the latter and the chamber, a flap in the chamber normally overlying the inlet, a horizontal pivotal mounting for said flap disposed behind said baifle lip, said body havinga vent opening in communication through a duct with said chamber, a valve element for closing said vent opening but normally uncovering the same, and means for moving said valve element to closed position upon movement of said flap caused by impingement of incoming liquid thereagainst, said duct debouching into said chamber at a point above said flap when the latter is moved.

3. A siphon breaker comprising a body having a chamber therein and inlet and outlet branches in connection with said chamber, the inlet branch debouching into said chamber on the horizontal, a ledge in said chamber surrounding the inlet, a pendent flap in said chamber pivotaily supported on a horizontal axis above the inlet with its margins normally overlying said ledge, and vent means closed upon movement of said flap 119 1 impingement of incoming fluid thereagainst.

- 4. A siphon breaker comprising a body having a through liquid passage and an upwardly .projecting neck above said passage, the neck having a vent opening at the top thereof and a vertical bore below said opening, said vent opening communicating with said passage, a plunger reciprocable in said bore and carrying at its upper end ,a valve member adapted to close the vent upon upward movement of said plunger, means normally yieldingly holding the plunger in a lowered position wherein the valve member uncovers the vent opening, and a flap pivoted in said'body and swung upon flow of liquid in said passage to move said plunger upwardly whereby the valve member is seated.

5. A siphon breaker comprising a body having a through liquid passage and an upwardly pro- Jecting neck above said passage, the neck having a vent opening at the top thereof and a vertical bore below said opening, said vent opening communicating with said passage, a plunger reciprocable in said bore and carrying at its upper end a valve member adapted to close the vent upon upward movement of said plunger, means normally yieldingly holding the plunger in a lowered position wherein the valve member uncovers the vent opening, and a flap'pivoted in said body and swung upon flow of liquid in said passage to move said plunger upwardly whereby the valve member is seated, said plunger being longitudinally spring-extended and collapsible to permit further movement of the flap after the valve member is seated.

6. A siphon breaker comprising a body havng separable upper and lower portions, said low er portion having a chamber therein closed by the upper portion and having inlet and outlet branches in connection with said chamber, a flap pivoted to and solely supported by said upper portion on a horizontal axis and depending in said chamber in front of the inlet, and vent means in said upper portion for said chamber and closed upon swinging movement of the'flap caused by impingement of inflowing liquid thereagainst, the assembled upper portion as a whole being adapted to be brought together with said lower portion in assembling said body.

7. A siphon breaker comprising a body hav separable upper and lower portions, said low 1' portion having a chamber therein closed by the upper portion as a whole being adapted to be" brought together with said lower portion in assembling said body.

8. A siphon breaker comprising a body having separable upper and lower portions, said lower portion having a chamber therein closed by the upper portion and having inlet and outlet branches in connection with said chamber, a flap pivoted to and solely supported by said upper portion on a horizontal axis and depending in said chamber in front of the inlet, and vent means in said upper portion for said chamber and closed upon swinging movement of the flap caused by impingement of inflowing liquid thereagaingf. said lastnamed means comprising a longitudinally yieldable plunger reciprocable in said upper 7| portion, the assembled upper portion as a whole being adapted to be brought together with said lower portion in assembling said body.

9. A siphon breaker comprising a body having inlet and outlet openings and a passage connecting said openings, means defining a hollow enlargement at one side of and communicating with said passage, a member in and normally extending across said passage and presenting a surface for impingement by fluid flowing through the passage, said member having pivotal support on an axis located in said enlargement, means defining an upright extension above said enlargement, said extension having a vertical through passage communicating at its lower end with said hollow enlargement, a valve slidably guided in said extension and reciprocable between opening and closing positions for said vertical passage, said valve being normally in opening position, and transmission means between said member and said valve whereby flow-induced swinging movement of said member acts to move said valve to closing position.

10. A siphon breaker comprising a body having inlet and outlet openings and a passage connecting said openings, means defining a hollow enlargement at one side of and communicating with said passage, a member in and normally extending across said passage and presenting a surface for impingement by fluid flowing through the passage, said member having pivotal support on an axis located in said enlargement, said passage having constricting means therein and immediately behind which said member normally lies, means defininig an upright extension above said enlargement, said extension having a vertical through passage communicating at its lower end with said hollow enlargement, a valve slidably guided in said extension and reciprocable between opening and'closing positions for said vertical passage, said valve being normally in opening position, and transmission means between said member and said valve whereby flow-induced swinging movement of said mem- 

